ming4 zi1 gu3 faan6明知故犯
Jyutpingming4 zi1 gu3 faan6
Yalemìhng jī gu faahn
Definition
To knowingly commit a mistake or crime; to willfully and deliberately violate rules or laws.
neutraldaily actionsother
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of deliberate defiance or stubbornness rather than just a simple error. It is frequently used in formal contexts like legal or disciplinary warnings, but also appears in casual arguments to highlight someone's lack of remorse. It implies that the person was fully aware of the consequences before they chose to act.
Examples
You knowingly broke the rules, there is really no saving you.
Why do you have to knowingly cross the line?
Related words
Common phrases
an act of wilful violation
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply making a mistake, as it specifically requires the element of prior knowledge and intent. Using it for an accidental slip-up will sound overly accusatory or confusing to a native speaker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
